Lemme see, since I was last here: new job, new marital status, and much water under the bridge.

Been a sparse time for sports, only did the World Masters Swim Champs in 2012 and a few local races (swimming & running), but hoping to limp back to some kind of fitness for 2015. Did my first 5K in ages on my birthday last weekend, and now back to nearly daily training. Lesson I always forget - never stop training, it is really bad for me._________________Training blog ... not updated very often these days
Crawling back to training ...

Here we go again - time to get qualifying times for the big event, the FINA World Masters Swim Champs in Perth, Oz. Meet is in April, with qualifying times to be done by 23 March. I've several meets lined up, and I'm entering 200m, 400m and 800m if I make the grade, along with the 3K OW swim. Fewer events than last time, but the 100m and 50m aren't going to do anything for me - I don't place well in the UK in those, let alone against giant Aussies and Kiwis. Hoping for at least one Top 20 finish in the event tho', despite broken training.

After April, aim is to ramp up running and cycling for a crack at some Oly distance events later in the year.

Pretty good meet, took 2 golds, 3 silvers and a bronze. Best swim was the 800m, less than 10 sec behind my best time of 2 yrs ago in full time training, but only got bronze. Huge motivator for sticking with the distance training

4 PBs from 4 swims; the 400m and 800m were both second best times since coming out of retirement, the 3K was the fastest O/W swim (on avg 100m pace) I've done ever. Placings: 200=26th; 400=20th; 800=23rd; 3K=23rd. Very happy with results

Next up:

GB Swim Nationals: June

Regents Park 10K series: July onwards.

My Events and Results in 2006

I thought I'd really go for it in Tri this year, but I've now had second thoughts, and I'm going to be concentrating on the swimming - and why not, as I'm unlikely to get any podium finishes in AG Tri this year, but I might in swimming.

Results: Got the qualifying times I needed on all the freestyle events. Just outside on the 200 BR and 200 IM. Should now be on for 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 FC in the Worlds, plus the 3K o/w.

Feb:
12th, Wokingham Half-Marathon
after messing up Bedford, this will be my first 13 mile run

Results: Thank you South West trains. Another missed race. Great.

17th-18th, Isle of Wight Masters:
100, 200, 400, 800 FC

Results: Had to withdraw, as very, very sick with nasty cold/chest infection. Really gutted.

Mar:
3rd-5th, Welsh Open Masters Champs:
100, 200, 400, 1500 FC
My next big pop at 1500m - hoping to make up for last time

Results: Well, I was still sick for the meet - was on anti-biotics - but I did extremely well all-in-all. 10 events, 10 medals, inc. two golds - one in the relay, and one individual - the 400 Ind Medly. I was beaten into silver 4 times, three times in big events of mine - 1500 FC, 800 FC and 200 IM - all of which I was beaten by international swimmers, being the top UK person (the problem with Open meets). Very pleased with results, all things considered.

Jun:
Thinking about doing Windsor.
but only if I'm sure I can do it without messing myself up for the next weekend, which is ...